Google Search

Jose Mourinho gamble backfires as crocked Manchester United ace now faces three games out

Manchester United star Henrikh Mkhitaryan started the Manchester derby on Saturday, despite returning from international duty with an injury issue.

According to The Times, the Armenian playmaker aggravated that thigh problem at Old Trafford, and will now face a 10-day spell on the sidelines which will see him miss the club’s next three games.

The 27-year-old picked up the initial problem after a collision with Marek Suchy in Armenia’s defeat to the Czech Republic at the end of last month.

Having failed to start a single game so far this season, Mourinho opted to throw him into his starting line-up against Manchester City, before hauling him off at half-time with his side trailing.

However, it looks as though the damage had already been done as aside from the disappointment of losing the game, Mourinho will now be without his summer signing for 10 days with United facing a busy schedule as they firstly face Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday night.

With Juan Mata and Anthony Martial left on the bench, it was a surprise decision from the Portuguese tactician to start both Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard.

It was an even riskier move to go with the former Borussia Dortmund man given that he had picked up a knock just a week or so earlier, and that gamble has now backfired as the injury has been made worse and the setback will undoubtedly be a disappointment to all concerned.